“Submerge! Quick!”
Down went the D-16, and at the same instant Lord Hastings ordered:
“No. 4 torpedo!” and giving the range as he had gauged it, commanded:
“Ready!”
“Fire!”
For a moment after the “click” which told that the torpedo had been launched, there was silence. Then Lord Hastings signalled for a rise, that he might ascertain, if possible, whether the shot had gone home.
Greatly to his chagrin, he perceived the periscope of the enemy suddenly come up from below. Apparently it had submerged at almost the same instant as had the D-16, and had maneuvered out of harm’s way.
“Missed her,” he informed Jack.
At that moment the enemy’s submarine dived, and Lord Hastings divined rightly that she was about to launch a torpedo at the D-16.
Quickly the course of the D-16 was changed, and she rolled violently as she suddenly turned her nose due south and sped forward.